An-Naml 20: (Solomon) inspected the birds and said, “Why can’t I see Hudhud? Or is it lost?

A. Metin Saruhan · 18 February 2018 · An-Naml

Translation

(Solomon) inspected the birds and said, “Why can’t I see Hudhud? Or is it lost?

Tafsir

On the day when Solomon gathered his army of jinns, humans and birds, he looked at the birds, saw that the hydud bird was not among them and said: "Why can't I see the hydud bird, or has it disappeared?" The meaning here is that he meant to say, "Or will it disobey our orders and rebel against us?

When Hadrat Suleiman 'alaihis-salâm' came to a place where there was no water, he searched for the bird to ask it where water could be found. Because Allah had bestowed some marvels on the bird, and because this bird had the marvelous ability to sense the waters under the ground, Hadrat Solomon (peace be upon him) searched for it.

What is said in the video

We have come to verse 20 of Surah An-Naml. Solomon inspected the birds and said: Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the missing? it says. The hoopoe bird. Yet the hoopoe, in Sheba, in the, um, goes to the Queen and listens to the conversations there. Because he listens to those conversations, he is late for the gathering. When he comes, he relays the conversations there to Solomon. And he writes a letter and has it dropped. We will come to those, inshallah. But let us just read this part, that is all. After this we will close our lesson, inshallah. Solomon inspected the birds and said: Why do I not see the hoopoe?

Or are you among the missing? On the day Solomon gathered his army of jinn, humans and birds, he cast an eye over the birds. He saw that the hoopoe was not among them and said: Why do I not see the hoopoe; or is he among the missing? The meaning he wants to convey here: or does he not listen to our command, does he rebel against us? He said it in that sense. When Solomon (peace be upon him) came to a waterless place, to task the hoopoe with where water could be found, he looked for the hoopoe. Because Allah granted the hoopoe certain skills. Since this bird has the skill of sensing waters under the ground, Solomon (peace be upon him) looked for the hoopoe.

Yes.